Pages

Friday, 3 February 2012

Student volunteering week 20th – 26th February 2012

This week, our Societies and Volunteering Co-ordinator tells us a little more about how you can get the most out of your university experience, give back and fill your CV with some fantastic experience.

In the last major study, 63
per cent of students surveyed reported formally volunteering since they had
started university. As the Societies and Volunteering Co-ordinator for RUSU, I
want to ensure that all students at Reading have every opportunity to get involved in volunteering during their time here.

In this Olympic and Jubilee year,
opportunities to get involved in projects in the local community seem to be
greater than ever and the action packed week of activities planned for student
volunteering week (20th – 26th Feb), showcases just this.
I hope that the week will give you a greater insight into volunteering; through
talking directly to local voluntary groups and charities at a volunteering
fayre in 3sixty, attending talks and getting involved in the one off no
commitment volunteering opportunities organised during the week.

I am particularly excited
about launching the NEW volunteering society. I have high hopes that this new group
will enable students to really influence the community projects RUSU is
involved with. The Vol Soc committee will (I hope!) develop their own events
and activities for groups in the community, and recruit a great team of student
volunteers to make their plans a reality!

A highlight of student
volunteering week will be the launch of Voices of Reading – a community choir
which is having it’s first rehearsal in student volunteering week. The choir, which
is being conducted by a Reading alumnus, needs a committee to help its weekly running.
If you were inspired by Gareth Malone and The Military Wives at Christmas and
want to be involved, then head along to the first session and sing your heart
out. The conductor will be bringing along her 6 month old son to rehearsals so
this choir really is open to everyone! RUSU are working with schools in Whitley
to develop this community choir open to all ages, all abilities and singing all
types of music.

And yes...there’s more! To
top it all you can go to another Freshers’ Fayre...but this time for
volunteering. Still all the leaflets (and hopefully a good selection of free
pens!) but no membership fees! Over 25 organisations are attending the
fayre in 3sixty on Wednesday 22nd Feb from 12noon – 3pm and will be
promoting a whole range of volunteering opportunities both locally, and further
afield.

Do take a look at the full
programme and drop me an email if you have any questions or pop in to the Hub
for a chat. Go on...escape the student bubble and immerse yourself in local
culture.